Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

Great Central Railway held their Autumn Steam Gala, Featuring four days of intensive timetabled engine movement along the line I took a trip to Rothley station to see the various arrivals and departures over the course of the Friday afternoon and early evening. From goods trains to double header express trains and even a cheeky diesel loco there was something for everyone. We begin at Leicester North but it's not long before we find ourselves arriving at the picturesque Rothley Station kept immaculately by a dedicated group of volunteers and station staff some of whom we see throughout the film. So take a step back in time (no TARDIS required) and witness the lost era of steam at one of Leicester and Leicestershire`s great attractions the ‪GCR‬ another great reason to ‪Visit Leicester.

  Tornado 60163 And Flying Scotsman 60103 locomotives pass through Loughborough station on their way to the ​⁠. With the iconic Brush transformers factory frontage visible behind them the two locomotives travel through double headed and join the regular rail traffic through the station to the surprise and delight of Friday evening commuters. We later catch up with them on the Stanford Viaduct pulled by a Red DB Class 66 " Martins House ".

A visit to the Mountsorrel And Rothley Community Heritage Center which includes the Mountsorrel Railway Museum for one of their March Steam Days . We begin the visit with an overview of the site with various steam powered locomotives moving about 'Pops' the traction engine is nearest to the camera and in the back of shot we see two steam engines moving about. Down beside the rails now and the imposing structure of the 1834 lift bridge can be seen (more on that later in the film). Panning left we see a green tank engine set for a goods run and past the sheds to the narrow gauge quarry bottom railway where a small grey engine visiting from the Statfold Barn railway is busy giving visitors a ride around the looped track. Next we see the green engine moving a goods train back and forth before number 2 turns a corner on another loop of the Quarry Bottom track loop. Then it's "All Aboard" from Quarry Bottom Halt for an eventful ride which ends in a rather dramat...

The S tatfold Country Park  includes the Statfold Barn Railway which regularly holds events for both enthusiasts and the public alike,  Known as "spectacle of steam" these events see possibly the most engines from the statfold collection out on the rails at any one time creating the spectacle of steam in the events title. In this film I explore the event and try to show not just the engines but a few of the team of passionate drivers and operators etc who really make this event so special. We start the film and our day at the sheds where the engines are filled with coal and water ready for the days workings, then to the station where the engines are coupled to passenger carriages and freight trucks, some engines are turned on the turntable ready to pull or push their respective rolling stock. Heading out onto the railway itself we see the various engines travelling along the rails in various directions. Soon we see engines running in parallel and at pace steam billowing from...

January brings the Winter Warmer Weekend to the Battlefield Line and a host of visiting engines including 6880 "Betton Grange", 1369, 71468 "Fred" and 2807. My film starts at Shenton Station where 2807 and 6880 "Betton Grange" arrive before recouping and heading back along the line to Market Bosworth where we meet 1369 and 71480 "Fred" in full steam.

Join me at the Battlefield Lines Winter Warmer Gala, my film traces the engines' journey from Shenton Station to Market Bosworth. We commence with a nostalgic scene, capturing the engines in reverse as they manoeuvre into position at Shenton Station, signalling the commencement of the return journey to Market Bosworth. Upon reaching Market Bosworth, the perspective shifts into the signal box, offering a commanding view as each engine takes it’s own train. The film showcases the grace and power of these historic locomotives against the backdrop of various station buildings etc completing the narrative with a nostalgic nod to the golden era of steam travel.

Join us at the Abbey Pumping Station as it`s resident narrow gauge engine Leonard is called upon to pull a special service for the coronation of King Charles III. The little green engine, which runs around the perimeter of the pumping station site, was decked out in bunting and featured a specially created headboard proclaiming it to be the King Charles III Coronation Express. Filmed onboard and trackside we see Leonard make his way from the station and around the site with both the spectacular Abbey Pumping Station building (featured in previous films on this channel) and the modern space-age National Space Center rocket tower nearby visible to passengers. At the end of the line engine is decoupled and pulls the express back to its starting point bunting waving in the wind as it steam`s along. Look out for regular steam days at the museum on the Visit Leicester website.

Filmed safely from the footbridge at the station, this video sees GWR steam engine Earl Of Mount Edgcumbe race through Narborough Station in Leicestershire on a test run along the line.

On the weekend of Saturday 12th/13th June 2021 the Statfold Barn Railway held an Enthusiast Weekend featuring a locomotive that was originally exported to Java to work at the Trangkil Sugar Mill. The engine features alongside locomotives from around the world brought together and run along the length of the Statfold Barn Railway. Look for engines racing each other along the track and pulling all types of rolling stock from passenger to freight. At these special events there's always something interesting steaming along sounding its whistle and creating an atmosphere in which something is always moving. My film aims to capture the busy nature of the event, you`ll see various engines passing each other, hear the many different sounds of operation, from train and guard whistles to the clanking of the wheels and hissing of pistons as the engines speed past.

I take a look at the annual Christmas Toys & Steam Day held at Leicester Museums Abbey Pumping Station. Featuring Meccano creations of every conceivable type and model railway layouts of various gauges. These are the toys young and old dreamt of finding under the tree on christmas mornings though the decades.